Written Answers Monday 3 September 2007

Scottish Executive

Agri-Environment Schemes

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-270 by Richard Lochhead, on 12 July 2007, what percentage of utilisable agricultural land was covered by agri-environment measures in 2005 and what the equivalent percentages were in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the European Union as a whole.

Richard Lochhead: The information requested was provided in the response to the answer to question S3W-270 on 12 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Agri-Environment Schemes

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-270 by Richard Lochhead on 12 July 2007, what amount of agri-environment funding was distributed per hectare of utilisable agricultural land in 2005 and what the equivalent amounts were in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the European Union as a whole.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-269 on 18 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Agriculture

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the system of penalties on farmers for contravention of agricultural regulations to introduce greater proportionality.

Richard Lochhead: New guidance for the Single Farm Payment Scheme which will be issued shortly should help farmers and crofters avoid common mistakes. While some discretion is allowed under Regulation 796/2004 for "obvious" and "notified" errors, amendment of the penalty system itself would require changes to European legislation. An avenue for a claimant to appeal against a decision to penalise a claim has been available for some time. I intend to undertake a review of that procedure shortly.

Agriculture

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce or abolish set-aside land and, if so, what the timetable is for such action.

Richard Lochhead: The European Commissioner for Agriculture has announced an intention to reduce the compulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. This is in response to the current market situation of high cereal prices and low world stocks, and follows a request from European farming organisations. However, because of the EU procedures involved, it is unlikely that a decision on the Commissioner’s proposal will be taken until the October Agriculture Council.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Air Discount Scheme cost in its first year of operation.

Stewart Stevenson: The total cost of the Air Discount Scheme from its launch in May 2006 to April 2007 was £4,962,504.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Loganair received through the Air Discount Scheme in its first year of operation.

Stewart Stevenson: Loganair received reimbursement of £3,570,719 for discounted tickets sold under the Air Discount Scheme in the period May 2006 to April 2007.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what modal shift was attributed to the Air Discount Scheme in its first year of operation.

Stewart Stevenson: We do not currently hold definitive data on this.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what volumes of additional carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to the Air Discount Scheme in its first year of operation.

Stewart Stevenson: These data are not available. The Air Discount Scheme provides for discounted fares for individual scheme members travelling on existing scheduled flights, rather than subsidising the flights that they travel on.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what legal basis the Air Discount Scheme is regarded as being not discriminatory against shipping operators.

Stewart Stevenson: The Air Discount Scheme (ADS) was approved by the European Commission as Aid of a Social Character. It is not a subsidy to airlines, but instead provides for discounted fares to individual scheme members.

  As a measure to facilitate social inclusion, the purpose of the ADS is to make air travel more affordable for residents of the most peripheral parts of the Highlands and Islands.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the restrictions on eligibility under the Air Discount Scheme, disqualifying those residents outside the Highlands from benefiting from the scheme, meet the legal requirements of UK and European anti-discrimination and human rights legislation.

Stewart Stevenson: The Air Discount Scheme was approved by the European Commission as Aid of a Social Character. Under Article 87(2)(a) of the EC Treaty, such aid can be granted to those resident in a specific region of need, as long as the relevant air services are open to free competition among all community air carriers.

Animal Welfare

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to close a loophole in legislation which allows pups that have had their tails docked to be imported into Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executive has no plans to make it an offence to import puppies with docked tails into Scotland. This would prevent pet owners with legally docked dogs bringing them to Scotland and it would be an illegal barrier to the trade in puppies from other EU member states.

Bridges

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of the implications of the removal of tolls on the Forth Road Bridge has been seen by ministers and when will it will be published.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have now seen the final report of the Toll Impact Study, covering both the Forth and Tay road bridges. This was published on Monday 20 August, and is available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/Road/toll-bridges .

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24414 by Tavish Scott on 28 March 2006, how many (a) applications have been received and (b) travel passes issued for companions of older and disabled travellers requiring assistance to travel under the national concessionary fares scheme since April 2006, broken down into (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: Information supplied to Transport Scotland indicates that since the introduction of the National Entitlement Card and Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People, 1,064,059 applications have been received and processed to date.

  The following table shows the total number of National Entitlement Card holders who qualify for Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People and those who qualify for the companion entitlement as of 21 August 2007.

  Figures can only be broken down by local authority as the facility is unavailable to report by parliamentary constituency.

  

Local Authority
Total Number of Cards Issued
Disabled Plus Companion
Visually Impaired Plus Companion


Aberdeen City
43,652
1,535
748


Aberdeenshire
39,995
1,244
358


Angus
23,028
379
97


Argyll and Bute
20,469
1142
169


City of Edinburgh
88,502
8,514
1,098


Clackmannanshire
9,454
316
41


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
6,046
75
20


Dumfries and Galloway
30,097
836
396


Dundee City
31,816
950
214


East Ayrshire
25,062
2,193
195


East Dunbartonshire
21,631
973
108


East Lothian
20,194
1,669
232


East Renfrewshire
17,172
853
86


Falkirk
29,101
715
241


Fife
79,022
12,463
947


Glasgow
110,475
16,191
1,250


Highland
41,508
1,337
473


Inverclyde
18,306
2,015
184


Midlothian
16,894
1,550
240


Moray
17,257
592
206


North Ayrshire
30,925
2,618
301


North Lanarkshire
58,699
6,207
438


Orkney Islands
4,304
95
13


Perth and Kinross
27,940
567
219


Renfrewshire
36,089
3261
316


Scottish Borders
23,662
652
212


Shetland Islands
4,245
128
11


South Ayrshire
26,924
1,795
221


South Lanarkshire
59,652
5,238
513


Stirling
15,867
386
77


West Dunbartonshire
18,363
2,078
229


West Lothian
27,956
3,060
352


Total
1,024,307
81,627
10,205

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work is underway to identify whether any duplication of functions exists between organisations within the culture portfolio.

Linda Fabiani: We are working consistently with all of our arms’ length delivery bodies to ensure that they operate in a manner which is as efficient and effective as possible.

Education

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will influence education spending through grant aided expenditure.

Fiona Hyslop: This government wants a new deal for local government and we are looking to put it in place as part of the on-going spending review. The goal is a strategic agreement on a range of measures that will enable local authorities to deliver a council tax freeze while maintaining and improving frontline services including education and children’s services.

  It remains the responsibility of each local authority to allocate its total resources including money allocated through the core local government finance settlement. Other than the specific grants contained within the settlement which represent less than 10 per cent of the total and having fulfilled their statutory obligations local authorities are free to allocate the money on the basis of local needs and priorities.

Environment

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its climate change statement on 21 June 2007, how it calculated that an 80% target for reducing emissions by 2050 is equivalent to 3% a year.

Stewart Stevenson: Greenhouse gas emissions for Scotland in 1990, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol, were 17.62 mega-tonnes of carbon (MtC): a reduction of 80% by 2050 would result in emissions of 3.524 MtC in 2050. The most recent emissions inventory data available is from 2004 at 14.683 MtC and has been used as the start year for the calculation. To achieve a reduction of 80% below 1990 levels over 46 years is the equivalent of an annual reduction of 3.05% from 2004.

Equality

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be responding formally to the UK Government’s consultation, Discrimination Law Review - A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain .

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is currently finalising a response to the Discrimination Law Review, which it intends to send to UK Ministers in due course. Scottish Government officials have been in regular contact with the Discrimination Law Review team to discuss the implications of devolved and reserved matters and the Scottish Government response will seek to ensure that Scottish interests are taken into account.

Equality

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to ensure that the Scottish Parliament’s views on the UK Government’s consultation, Discrimination Law Review - A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain , are taken into account, given that the formal consultation period ends on 4 September 2007.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is currently finalising a response to the Discrimination Law Review, which it intends to send to UK ministers in due course. We will be responding in our capacity as the Scottish Government, views of other stakeholders will of course help to inform our response and ensure that Scotland’s interests are taken into account. There are no plans to formally consult the Scottish Parliament on these proposals from the UK Government. Members of the Scottish Parliament are, of course, free to make their views known to the UK Government on any matters that concern them regarding the review.

European Parliament

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that projected trends in population growth should be taken into account when determining the number of members of the European Parliament to represent Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: Under current legislation periodic reviews mean that MEP numbers are determined with reference to actual numbers of electors.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been made to review the proposed new rail-ferry interchange at Gourock, in light of concerns expressed at the level of subsidy required for each person using the passenger ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.

Stewart Stevenson: The Gourock transport interchange project is being taken through a design development phase, which includes detailed business case evaluation to ensure the interchange and the wider commercial re-development provide value for money.

  There are no plans to initiate a further review of the scheme.

  In respect of the subsidy provided on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service I refer to the member to the answers to questions S3W-2274 and S3W-2278 on 7 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors explain the threefold increase in subsidy paid to NorthLink Ferries in the 2002-05 period.

Stewart Stevenson: The circumstances relating to the operation of the public service contract with NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd were fully investigated by the Auditor General for Scotland and his report, as published in December 2005, is available electronically at www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/publications/pdf/2005/05pf11ag.pdf .

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken by ministers to prevent further cost over-runs by NorthLink Ferries since 2005.

Stewart Stevenson: The public service contract with NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd was amended in September 2004 to take account of the company’s commercial position and the additional payments that were necessary to maintain essential lifeline ferry operations whilst the contract was re-tendered.

  That re-tendering was completed in July 2006, with the award of a six-year public service contract in favour of NorthLink Ferries Ltd and that new operator commenced operations on 6 July 2006. As noted by the Auditor General for Scotland in paragraphs 3.20 to 3.24 of his report into the operation of our contract with NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd, as available electronically at www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/publications/pdf/2005/05pf11ag.pdf, lessons from that experience were reflected in revised tendering arrangements and contract terms for the contract now in place with NorthLink Ferries Ltd.

  I can also confirm that all payments made to NorthLink Ferries Ltd since 6 July 2006 have been made in accordance with the terms of the contract. The company will publish its annual accounts for 2006-07 later this year.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place prior to the purchase of new specialised livestock containers for northern isles ferry services; what justification there is for public money being used to fund these purchases; whether the containers are suitable and available for use on vessels other than those run by state-owned ferry operators, and whether the purchase and restrictions on use were in line with competition and state aid rules.

Stewart Stevenson: In response to concerns expressed by the local community and having regard to the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, ministers in the previous administration asked NorthLink Ferries Ltd to develop new livestock transport arrangements compliant with all relevant animal welfare and other regulatory requirements following the inclusion of livestock in the service specification for the Northern Isles ferry service contract that took effect from 6 July 2006. Ministers also established a livestock shipping working group consisting of representatives from Orkney and Shetland Councils, Orkney and Shetland livestock marts, local representatives of the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, Scotbeef, the State Veterinary Service, hauliers and Scottish Executive officials to support and advise on the company’s efforts. NorthLink has consulted members of that working group and others in developing designs for new livestock containers and a prototype that was produced last year. Further design and prototype development is still underway but NorthLink remains confident that its new arrangements will be fully in place by autumn 2008.

  The proposed containers are being designed for use on NorthLink’s vessels to transport livestock from Orkney and Shetland as part of the approved services under the contract between Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd. The public service contract provides that capital grants may be provided to support lifeline ferry operations and it is envisaged that the new livestock containers will be funded under those provisions, ensuring that they will be available as necessary to subsequent operators each time the contract is re-tendered.

  The purchase of these containers by NorthLink will be subject to an open competition as required under European public procurement rules.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what concessions are given to freight operators using (a) CalMac and (b) NorthLink ferries; how much these concessions have cost the taxpayer in each of the last five years, and why there are different tariff arrangements for the carriage of freight and livestock between the northern isles and the mainland and the Western Isles and the mainland.

Stewart Stevenson: CalMac Ferries Ltd operates a traders’ rebate scheme under which rebates are granted to commercial vehicle operators for frequent use of CalMac’s ferry routes. Rebates from 2.5% to 15% relate to the annual number of journeys made by a commercial customer and are calculated on a route by route basis. CalMac introduced the current arrangements in 2003, to rationalise former ad hoc arrangements and provide a consistent approach across its route network.

  CalMac estimates the value of traders’ rebates provided on its routes as follows:

  2002-03 not separately identifiable

  2003-04 £687,000

  2004-05 £676,000

  2005-06 £710,000

  2006-07 £741,000.

  NorthLink Ferries Ltd, which has operated the Northern Isles ferry contract since 6 July 2006, does not provide any discounts to freight operators. All operators pay the company’s published tariff rates, as set in the contract service specification, irrespective of volume or frequency of usage. NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd, which ceased to trade on 6 July 2006, had previously operated a hauliers’ discount scheme which gave banded rebates based on the volume of traffic shipped per month. Since freight was not included in the service specification for the former public service contract with that company, we have no information on the costs of these discounts.

  Differences in freight and livestock tariffs charged by CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd reflect historical differences in the operation of the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles ferry services.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the authors of the SUTRANET study, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets, published in June 2007, that "subsidy paid to state-owned (shipping) operators has been constantly increasing and now appears to be out of control" and what steps are being considered to bring subsidy levels into line with levels in 2002.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has put in place, or aims to put in place, tendered contracts for the operation of all lifeline ferry services subsidised by the Executive. The contracts will result in robust contractual arrangements for the provision of these vitally important services. The levels of subsidy paid are strictly controlled by the terms of these contracts. These contracts will control the costs.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the authors of the SUTRANET study, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets, published in June 2007, that "because they own shipping lines, Ministers have little alternative but to allow state-owned ferry lines to operate on a virtual blank cheque basis".

Stewart Stevenson: No, the Scottish Executive does not agree with the assertion.

Fisheries

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that Eyemouth and the Berwickshire coast will be considered for fisheries dependent area status within the EU Fisheries Fund programme for 2007 to 2013, in light of the importance of the fisheries industry in these areas.

Richard Lochhead: Eyemouth and the Berwickshire coast is one of many areas in Scotland being considered for fisheries dependent area status within the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) programme for 2007 to 2013. The selection criteria for fisheries dependent area status, which are yet to be agreed, will form part of the draft Operational Programme for EFF which will be the subject of a full public consultation.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what slaughter protocols and contingency plans are in place to deal with any future threat of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland and how much vaccine is being held in readiness, expressed in terms of the percentage of the total number of cattle that could be vaccinated in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executive contingency plan for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) sets out the basic disease control strategy. The specific circumstances of each outbreak are taken into account in refining that approach.

  Vaccination would be considered where appropriate to the specific disease situation.

  The Scottish Government has access to the UK vaccine bank and the Animal Health Agency has teams available to deliver a vaccination programme. There is no single vaccine for FMD and availability would depend on the strain identified. For national security reasons EU legislation forbids the disclosure of the size of the vaccine banks.

Heritage

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-92 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what actions it plans to take to maintain and enhance the quality of the natural heritage and built environment.

Stewart Stevenson: As indicated in my earlier answer to question S3W-00092, answered on 1 June 2007 the planning system is being modernised to make it fit for purpose to achieve its objectives which include – maintaining and enhancing the quality of the natural and built environment.

  National planning guidance on the natural and built environment is currently being revised. SPP 14 Natural Heritage and SPP 23 Planning and the Historic Environment respectively will review and revise guidance on how the Government’s policies for the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s natural and built heritage should be reflected in land use planning. We will be consulting on both documents.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Historic Monuments

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it has had discussions with regarding the possibility of a merger of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: In carrying out our investigation of the possibilities for a merger of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, we have held discussions with the two bodies and my officials have met with a range of relevant stakeholders. I also discussed this merger with the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee at my appearance before the committee on 27 June 2007.

Homelessness

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information gathering it has undertaken or will undertake or commission to assess the (a) measures needed to achieve and (b) costs associated with the achievement of the 2012 target to end priority need in homelessness assessments.

Stewart Maxwell: As stated in response to answer to question S3W-1134 on 26 June 2007 the Scottish Government will discuss these issues with stakeholders, taking account of information gathered from annual outcome and progress reports submitted by local authorities, homelessness statistics and other data sources. These will include the sources set out in the Statement on Abolition of Priority Need published in December 2005 under section 3 of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2005.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Homelessness

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether registered social landlords are required to offer accommodation within a specified time period to homeless applicants referred to them by local authorities under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Stewart Maxwell: Section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires that a registered social landlord (RSL) must comply, within a reasonable period, with a local authority’s request to provide accommodation for a homeless household, which is unintentionally homeless with a priority need, unless it has good reason not to.

  Scottish ministers have issued guidance on what constitutes "good reason" for refusal of a request. This states that, where an RSL is unable to make appropriate accommodation available within six weeks, then it has good reason for non-compliance. An RSL also has a good reason for non-compliance if the only accommodation it has available is of a specialist nature and this is not appropriate for the applicant.

Homelessness

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether registered social landlords are required to offer accommodation to homeless applicants referred to them by local authorities under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 if the applicants’ homelessness was caused by their eviction by any registered social landlord on the grounds of antisocial behaviour.

Stewart Maxwell: Section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires that a registered social landlord (RSL) must comply, within a reasonable period, with a local authority’s request to provide accommodation for a homeless household, which is unintentionally homeless with a priority need, unless it has good reason not to. Section 5 also requires that the accommodation must be a Scottish secure tenancy (or in cases where there is antisocial behaviour order or where there has been an eviction on antisocial behaviour grounds in the last three years, a short Scottish secure tenancy) unless an express request for other accommodation has been made by the local authority.

  Scottish ministers have issued guidance on what constitutes "good reason" for refusal of a request. This states that, where an RSL is unable to make appropriate accommodation available within six weeks then it has good reason for non-compliance. An RSL also has a good reason for non-compliance if the only accommodation it has available is of a specialist nature and this is not appropriate for the applicant. Antisocial behaviour is not one of the grounds which provide good reason not to comply.

Justice

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing dedicated prosecutors to deal with alleged breaches of health and safety legislation.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: All Procurators Fiscal are provided with the necessary training, development opportunities and guidance material to enable them to carry out their wide range of duties, including dealing with breaches of health and safety legislation.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has, in addition, established a national network of prosecutors who receive special training in health and safety cases. It is intended that the specialist prosecutors will prepare cases for prosecution or give advice on preparation to colleagues. The extent to which the specialists deal with cases is a matter for senior prosecutors in each area.

  One of the main responsibilities of the specialists is to provide a named contact for the Health and Safety Executive to enhance the clarity in liaison arrangements when a case is being investigated and prepared for report to COPFS.

Justice

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will order a full public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Stockline disaster which killed nine workers in a factory in Maryhill.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: An inquiry will be held, in public, into the circumstances and causes of the explosion which occurred at the ICL Plastics factory in Maryhill on 11 May 2004.

  I am considering the form and remit of the inquiry and, in particular, whether the issues may be properly addressed at a fatal accident inquiry or another form of public inquiry. I have asked the area procurator fiscal, who has been in touch with the families of the deceased throughout the investigation, to meet with them and seek their views.

  I am conscious of the anxiety that the on-going proceedings have caused for families, and I wish to ensure that the process for determining the form of inquiry should not be unduly lengthy. I anticipate that a decision will be taken before the end of September.

Marine Environment

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-924 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2007, whether it intends to reconvene the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy.

Richard Lochhead: As I indicated to the Parliament previously, I am currently considering the recommendations of the Advisory Group of Marine and Coastal Strategy and it is my intention to announce this government’s plans for Scottish Marine legislation in due course. At that time, I will also announce details of how this work will be taken forward, including whether the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy will be reconvened.

Maternity Services

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has acted on its support for EOC Scotland’s 2005 action plan to end pregnancy discrimination in Scotland through the provision of a written statement of maternity rights and employer responsibilities to every pregnant woman, with a tear-off section to give to her employer and, if so, whether pregnant women are receiving this information between the twelfth and twentieth week of pregnancy or at their booking appointment, the time considered appropriate by EOC Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government liaised closely with the then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - now the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) - over the drafting of the "written statement", which took the form of a leaflet, entitled Pregnancy and Work , summarising the rights of both pregnant employees and their employers and their responsibilities towards each other.

  From 1 October 2006, the leaflet could be downloaded from the then DTI website in 2 parts – one part for the employee and the other for the employer. The Scottish Government provided a link on its website to the relevant webpage (now on the DBERR website) and encouraged its stakeholders to do the same.

  The hard copy of the leaflet has been available from January 2007 – to order from the then DTI (now DBERR) website and also as an insert in the Royal College of Midwives publication Together We Care which is given to women between the 12th and 20th week of pregnancy. However, we recognise that distribution is not as wide as it could be in Scotland.

  DTI’s (now DBERR’s) contract for the current method of distribution only runs to end December 2007. DBERR has plans to evaluate the method of distribution and usefulness of the leaflet to pregnant women and their employers within the next two months. We will be liaising closely with DBERR about the outcome of the evaluation, which will form the basis of decisions about how we might improve the leaflet’s distribution in future.

  Continuing to help take forward the EOC Scotland’s three-step action plan to end pregnancy discrimination at work in Scotland is one of the high-level objectives in the Scottish Government’s Gender Equality Scheme, published in March 2007.

Ministerial Cars

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental performance benchmarks will be used when determining which vehicles will be used by ministers and officials.

John Swinney: We aim to ensure that all vehicles used by ministers and officials demonstrate good environmental performance for their category. This means in practice that vehicles purchased in the near future for use by ministers and officials are likely to be mainly diesel powered and compliant with Euro IV; the current European environmental standard defining the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states. We regularly assess new technologies that might improve environmental performance and have recently also acquired a number of hybrid petrol/electric vehicles.

Ministerial Meetings

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministers have followed the example of the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change who stated "I’ve asked the civil servants to timetable engagements if they’re in Edinburgh, so I can walk between them".

John Swinney: Scottish Government policy encourages everyone to consider the environmental impact of their travel and to make the most environmentally conscious and practical arrangements for attending engagements.

  Ministers have frequently travelled by foot between ministerial engagements in Edinburgh. We intend to continue to do this, on a regular basis, as and when circumstances and our diaries permit.

Ministerial Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total carbon emission was from the transportation of ministers by (a) official car, (b) air, (c) rail and (d) ferry in the last year for which figures are available.

John Swinney: During 2006-07 the equivalent CO 2  emissions relative to the travel of ministers for official purposes by official car, air and rail was as follows:

  

Energy Type
Emission
(tonnes CO2e)


Official car
195


Air
51


Rail
1


Total
247



  The emissions for travel by ferry were minimal.

Ports and Harbours

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by central and local government on new port and terminal infrastructure at (a) Dunoon, (b) Kirkwall, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Scrabster, (e) Stromness and (f) Lerwick since 2000; whether it regards this expenditure as part of the subsidy provided to state-owned ferry operators, and whether the European Commission has been notified of such expenditure in response to its enquiries about subsidies to state-owned ferry operators received in late May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: The financial information requested is as follows:

  

Harbour
SE Grant Paid Since 2000 
(£ Million)
LA Funding
(£ Million)


Dunoon*
4.500
0.565


Kirkwall (Hatston)/Stromness**
17.990
5.314


Aberdeen
0.554***
Nil


Scrabster
20.063
Nil


Lerwick
1.537
Nil



  Notes:

  *A further £0.135 million was contributed by HITRANS.

  **Developments at Hatston and Stromness were treated as a single project for grant purposes.

  ***Costs shown represent payments made to date. Total grant estimated as £2.473 million once all project claims have been received.

  Those contributions have enabled harbour authorities to continue to provide relevant berthing facilities and it would therefore not be appropriate to regard this as part of subsidies that have been paid to ferry operators for the provision of lifeline ferry services. These expenditure details have not been notified to the European Commission as a consequence of its current enquiries into ferry operations in Scotland, or on other occasions. Indeed, we note that the Commission’s decision Number N503/2005 in respect of the development of the Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour makes it clear that such financial contributions towards maritime infrastructure does not constitute State aid.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the route of the Waverley railway line involves the use of existing track and what proportion involves laying new track, also showing the distances involved.

Stewart Stevenson: The total length of the Waverley Railway line is 56km, from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. 47km of the line is new track, from Tweedbank northwards, connecting to the existing track at Newcraighall.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made by the promoters of the Waverley railway line in their cost estimates for fencing new track.

Stewart Stevenson: The provision in the cost estimate for fencing the new track shall ensure that the boundaries of the new track are secure to the appropriate railway fencing requirements.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the benefits of the Waverley railway project is attributable to new houses being built in the Scottish Borders Council area in places that will be served by new stations and how many new houses are planned to be built.

Stewart Stevenson: Information on the number of new houses planned to be built, and the anticipated proportion of benefits that is attributable to the new houses being built in the Scottish Borders Council area in places that will be served by new stations, can be found in the promoter’s Outline Business Case which can be accessed at the following website: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/waverlyRB/docs/wr04-bc-00.htm .

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made of the subsidy that would be required to meet the expected operational deficit linked to the Waverley railway line.

Stewart Stevenson: As I announced in my statement to Parliament on 26 June 2007, Transport Scotland is continuing a due-diligence review of the Borders railway as it prepares to take on the role of Authorised Undertaker for the railway, a role that it is assuming at the behest of the previous administration. Until this exercise is completed, it is not prudent to speculate on expected findings.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the rail projects in its current capital programme were of sufficient significance at UK level to have merited consideration by the Strategic Rail Authority; which projects were considered by the SRA, and what comments were made.

Stewart Stevenson: Until October 2005 the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) had statutory responsibility for the improvement and development of railway facilities across Great Britain and therefore considered all proposed railway enhancements in Scotland up to that date. The SRA provided comments to project promoters on their schemes.

  Representatives of the SRA gave evidence to the committees considering the Stirling – Alloa – Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Bill on 27 October 2003 and 3 November 2003 and the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill on 14 March 2005.

  The transcripts of these evidence sessions are available as follows:

  Stirling – Alloa – Kincardine

  www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/sak-rail-bill/or-03/sa03-0202.htm#Col34.

  www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/sak-rail-bill/or-03/sa03-0302.htm#Col97.

  Waverley Railway

  www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/waverlyRB/or/wr05-0402.htm#Col204.

  The Strategic Rail Authority led the Project Development Group for the redevelopment of Waverley Station until October 2005 when the Scottish Executive took over this role.

  The Strategic Rail Authority was represented on the Steering Group of the study into rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports and the report reflects the SRA’s contribution. The SRA was then represented at the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Operating Group and the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Wider Stakeholders Meeting.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s statement of 6 June 2007 on the objectives of the Audit Scotland review when he said "My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real benefit to the travelling public and the Scottish economy. I want to be absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs involved in these projects, and the assessment of risk involved, before they progress any further", he is now absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs and assessment of risk involved in the Waverley rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: As I announced in my statement to Parliament on 26 June 2007, Transport Scotland is continuing a due-diligence review of the Borders railway project as it prepares to take on the role of Authorised Undertaker for the railway, a role that it is preparing for at the behest of the previous administration. This exercise will better inform me of what the costs and risks involved in the Borders rail line are likely to be.

Rail Network

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the reopening of Kintore Station.

Stewart Stevenson: The reopening of Kintore Station features in the Aberdeen Crossrail proposal which is being promoted by the North East of Scotland Regional Transport Partnership (NESTRANS). The STAG 2 appraisal for this project is currently being finalised by NESTRANS and I understand the report should be with Transport Scotland by the end of summer. We will then be able to assess the feasibility and value for money of this project including the reopening of Kintore Station.

Regeneration

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2526 by Stewart Maxwell on 14 August 2007, how it will create the right environment for private and public investment.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2526 by Stewart Maxwell on 14 August 2007, how it will target action in the most disadvantaged communities.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2526 by Stewart Maxwell on 14 August 2007, how it will devolve power to the local level.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2526 by Stewart Maxwell on 14 August 2007, what legislative or administrative proposals is it considering in relation to promoting the successful and sustainable transformation of communities across Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government will be bringing forward proposals for the successful and sustainable transformation of communities in the context of the spending review. We will make announcements in due course.

Research

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are there any plans to review the terms and conditions of staff who moved from the Hannah Research Institute to Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian universities.

Richard Lochhead: Seventeen of the former Hannah Research Institute staff are currently employed by Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian Universities under a transitional funding arrangement. The terms and conditions of those staff are a matter for those Universities. The transitional funding is not transferable.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional risks were identified with the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project leading to a year’s delay in the projected completion date.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1672 on 17 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and what proportion of these costs are attributable to the change of route announced in December 2005.

Stewart Stevenson: To date approximately £22.5 million has been spent on the design and development of the project. Prior to the announcement in December 2005 of the adoption of the Milltimber Brae and Fastlink £12.2 million was spent on the design of the Murtle Route. £6.4 million of the £12.2 million spend related to sections of the Murtle route common to the current proposals.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from private developers in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route or to development controls over areas of green belt adjacent to the projected route of the project.

Stewart Stevenson: A number of private developers have approached the project team to enquire about the scheme design as it has progressed. Development control is, however, a matter for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to complete the process of acquisition of land required to enable it to build the M74 extension.

Stewart Stevenson: With the exception of very small areas, all of the land required for the M74 completion scheme has now been acquired.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Transport Scotland financial review of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project will (a) begin and (b) be completed and what the terms are of the review.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1348 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which road project in its current capital programme costing in excess of £100 million has the highest benefit-to-cost ratio.

Stewart Stevenson: On a like for like basis, M8 Baillieston to Newhouse has the highest benefit to cost ratio.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, when options were prepared in 2004 for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, what the relative costs were of the (a) Murtle, (b) Pitfodels, (c) Miltimber Brae, (d) Peterculter/Charleston and (e) Peterculter/Stonehaven routes.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) £210 million to £280 million.

  (b) £245 million to £335 million.

  (c) £265 million to £365 million.

  (d) £270 million to £370 million.

  (e) £295 million to £405 million.

  All costs are predicted out-turn costs at time of completion of each option.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, when options were prepared in 2004 for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, what the relative cost-benefit ratios were of the (a) Murtle, (b) Pitfodels, (c) Miltimber Brae, (d) Peterculter/Charleston and (e) Peterculter/Stonehaven routes.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) 1:4.6

  (b) 1:4.7

  (c) 1:3.8

  (d) 1:3.4

  (e) 1:3.2.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to redesigning the Forth Road Bridge toll plaza following the removal of tolls.

Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and City of Edinburgh Council are the road authorities with responsibility for the toll plaza and the A90 route to the south. FETA and the council are working together to discuss options and plan for redesigning the approach to the Forth Road Bridge following the removal of tolls. Scottish Executive officials are assisting with these discussions where appropriate.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the introduction of bus priority measures from the A90 on to the Forth Road Bridge following the removal of tolls and redesign of the toll plaza.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, the City of Edinburgh Council and the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership. We are aware, however, that a bus priority project is currently under consideration.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s statement on the objectives of the Audit Scotland review when he said "My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real benefit to the travelling public and the Scottish economy. I want to be absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs involved in these projects, and the assessment of risk involved, before they progress any further", he is now absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs and assessment of risk involved in the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1811 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s statement on the objectives of the Audit Scotland review when he said "My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real benefit to the travelling public and the Scottish economy. I want to be absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs involved in these projects, and the assessment of risk involved, before they progress any further", he is now absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs and assessment of risk involved in the M80 Stepps to Haggs project.

Stewart Stevenson: The current cost estimate is in the range £130 million to £150 million, based on the risks as currently identified, but we will continue to monitor both in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts. The tender process is under way and the absolute costs will not be known until tenders have been returned and the contract completed.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s statement on the objectives of the Audit Scotland review when he said "My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real benefit to the travelling public and the Scottish economy. I want to be absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs involved in these projects, and the assessment of risk involved, before they progress any further", he is now absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs and assessment of risk involved in the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse project.

Stewart Stevenson: The current cost estimate is in the range £170 million to £210 million, based on the risks as currently identified, but we will continue to monitor both in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts. The absolute costs will not be known until tenders have been returned and the contract completed.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s statement on the objectives of the Audit Scotland review when he said "My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real benefit to the travelling public and the Scottish economy. I want to be absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs involved in these projects, and the assessment of risk involved, before they progress any further", he is now absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs and assessment of risk involved in the M74 completion project.

Stewart Stevenson: The M74 project is currently being tendered. We expect to award the contract later this year but will only do so if the bid demonstrates value for money benchmarked against an independent cost comparator.

Rural Development

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what on-going support it will provide to address the maintenance backlog for village halls across the country.

Richard Lochhead: Rural community groups will be able to access support through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 which the Executive has submitted to Brussels. Before any of the available funds can be spent, the programme needs to be approved by the European Commission. Approval is expected later this year.

  The programme contains a specific measure, worth £32 million over seven years, to help provide leisure, recreation, sporting, catering and other rural community services and facilities, including village halls. Arrangements for applying for such support under a Rural Development Contract will be published later this year.

  There will also be new opportunities for rural community groups to benefit from LEADER. Some £41 million has been earmarked over the seven year programme to support service provision, including village halls and other community.

Rural Development

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Richard Lochhead: The Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was officially submitted to the European Commission during week ending 22 June 2007. The programme has been deemed by the Commission as "admissible" and therefore the Commission now has six months from 22 June 2007 in which to approve the Programme, or send it back for modification.

Rural Development

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total receipts from national and EU compulsory modulation will be in 2007.

Richard Lochhead: National (voluntary) and EU compulsory modulation in 2007 will generate total receipts of approximately £33.7 million for Scotland. This estimate is based on an exchange rate of €1=£0.685 which may differ from the rate at 30 September 2007 which will be used to calculate the 2007 payments. In addition this estimate does not take account of any reductions or penalties that may apply to single farm payments.

Rural Development

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the ongoing delay in securing European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the resulting lack of access by applicants to rural development schemes, whether the Executive will confirm that all receipts from modulation of single farm payments in 2007 will be available to applicants in the remaining years of the scheme.

Richard Lochhead: Under European rules, receipts modulated in one year from the single payment scheme are made available for use on rural development measures in the subsequent year. Therefore, modulation receipts generated in 2007 will be available to fund rural development measures from 2008. In addition, member states have a further two calendar years in which to spend the EU-funded element of their rural development budget. This means that receipts from the modulation of SPS payments in 2007 can be used up to 31 December 2010. This mechanism will apply to each year of the programme.

Rural Development

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Rural Stewardship Scheme, (b) Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (c) and Organic Aid Scheme agreements expire in 2007.

Richard Lochhead: (a) 529, (b) 329 and (c) 49.

Rural Development

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Rural Stewardship Scheme, (b) Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (c) and Organic Aid Scheme agreements that expire in 2007 apply to areas designated as special areas of conservation or special protection areas.

Richard Lochhead: Inconsistencies in the data sets make it impossible to provide a definitive figure however Scottish Natural Heritage have provisionally estimated that 120 of the Rural Stewardship Scheme agreements which expire in 2007 lie within or partially within a Special Area of Conservation or a Special Protection Area. Similar estimates are not readily obtainable for Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme agreements and Organic Aid Scheme agreements.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to bring forward to challenge sectarian attitudes in universities and further education colleges.

Fiona Hyslop: In academic year 2006-07 the Scottish Executive funded the National Union of Students Scotland to deliver a campaign to both raise awareness of the issue of sectarianism in further and higher education and to challenge sectarian belief and behaviour amongst students. This has produced a resource base of campaign materials which can continue to be used, including a website and a training package for student officers.

  There are currently no plans to extend this campaign.

Sexual Offences

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review procedures in relation to policy on the handling of cases of rape and sexual assault.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1358 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Ministers will, of course, consider and respond to the Scottish Law Commission’s report on its review of the law relating to rape and other sexual offences which is expected later this year.

Transport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will formally respond to the recent Sustainable Transport Research and Development Network in the North Sea Region (SUTRANET) report, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has noted this report but it is not it’s intention to respond formally to it.

  We observe that the report describes the outcome of a 150 minute workshop attended by five private sector ferry operators, one consultant and an academic.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what year the information on each project considered in its June review of major capital projects was last updated.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland monitors both Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme and the Major Rail Projects Programme on a quarterly basis. The information on each project within the rail programme was last updated in May 2007 with the roads programme similarly updated in June 2007.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what year the construction costs of each project considered in its June review of major capital projects are based.

Stewart Stevenson: The estimates are based on the out-turn costs at the anticipated date for construction.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional risks were identified through the review of major transport projects conducted in June 2007 relating to (a) the Edinburgh trams project, (b) the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project and (c) other capital projects.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of major transport projects conducted in June 2007 included a full risk analysis of major capital projects other than the Edinburgh trams project and Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: The review considered the risks of each of the major projects based on the latest information for each project and the extent to which risks had been or could be mitigated successfully.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of major transport projects conducted in June 2007 included a full review of projected costs of major capital projects other than the Edinburgh trams project and Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project and whether these costs can now be expressed at 2007 prices.

Stewart Stevenson: The review considered the costs of each of the major projects based on the latest information for each project which are derived from Transport Scotland’s regular project monitoring. To ensure consistency of monitoring the estimates are based on the out-turn costs at the anticipated date for construction.

Transport

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific guidance it has given to Transport Scotland on the remit and scope of the reviews of major transport infrastructure projects.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland reviews its portfolio of major road and rail projects on a quarterly basis and provides updates to ministers. Transport Scotland operates within its Framework Document, Corporate Plan and the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what record it has of the number of smoky vehicles on roads.

Stewart Stevenson: The Executive does not hold central records on vehicles that fail emissions tests.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the number of smoky vehicles on roads to help reduce pollution from motor vehicles and lessen the impact on the environment.

Stewart Stevenson: Vehicle testing and licensing is supervised through the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) across the UK with the aim of improving the roadworthiness standards of vehicles.

  The Executive provides support to local authorities enabling them to undertake roadside vehicle emissions testing using VOSA approved equipment, complementing enforcement and random roadside testing undertaken by VOSA and the standard MoT test.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which road project in its current capital programme costing in excess of £100 million has the lowest benefit-to-cost ratio.

Stewart Stevenson: On a like for like basis, A876 Kincardine Bridge has the lowest benefit to cost ratio.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the anticipated impact on tender prices for major transport projects of (a) slippage and (b) limited competition resulting from the coincidence of tendering and construction start dates.

Stewart Stevenson: Estimates for projects are based on the latest available information. We continue to monitor estimates in the light of prevailing tender prices for construction contracts.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the European Commission regarding possible funding mechanisms for the replacement Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: No discussions have yet taken place with HM Treasury or the European Commission regarding possible funding mechanisms for the replacement Forth Crossing.

  However, I can confirm that preliminary discussions have been held with officials from the Department for Transport about the possibility of securing some European funding.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any STAG appraisals took place prior to the introduction of new shipping or air subsidy schemes and whether each or any of the subsidy schemes introduced were taken forward via a tendering process in the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The Air Discount Scheme (ADS) was not subject to a STAG appraisal. Subsidies for existing lifeline ferry services have not been subject to STAG appraisals. It is standard practice to undertake a STAG appraisal for all new vessels and for any new ferry service proposals.

  In developing proposals for the ADS, however, consideration was given to an existing body of relevant work including detailed cost, benefit and environmental analysis conducted on the Highlands and Islands Strategic Transport Partnership’s proposal for an expanded network of subsidised air services in the Highlands and Islands.

  No tendering process for the ADS was necessary. The scheme, which provides for discounted air fares for members travelling on commercial air services, is open to all airlines operating on eligible routes. The Scottish Executive has, or aims to, put in place tendered contracts for the operation of all lifeline ferry services which it subsidises.